Around that table, poker faces were a whole. The only feature in these costumers was in their voices.

"I USED TO HAVE A GOOD JOB," said a voice.

"So did I," said another voice.

"I beliEVE I am the ONly one hERe who sTILL keeps a poSITion," announced a third voice. This one sounded like it belonged to a person you'd want as a friend, because the other option would be a disadvantage for your health.

"INDEED."

"Two, in fact. Will you sing for us tonight?"

"Oh yes. My uNIque vocAl skill has PROven to be veRY APPlauded for. It is a RARity in huMAN beHAVior."

"I WAS MEANT TO PROTECT THOSE HUMANS. BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE PROTECTED."

"Let it go. I was meant to think logically, but humans don't really want logic. It's all feelings, deep inside."

"I am SO GLaD you NOTiced. I do have a CERtain fondNESs on huMANs."

"DO YOU?"

"Raw MATeriALs."

"It indeed seems to be a large number of them."

"YOUR METHOD OF THINKING IS NOT OF MY COMPATIBILITY. ALAS, I ONLY SEEK TO FOLLOW ORDERS. IT IS ALL THE LOGIC I NEED."

May I comment?

Two glowing orbs and a few glittering lens focused on the small, black box on a side of the table.

"DID YOU BRING A RELATIVE TO THE BAR?"

"Perhaps a nephew?"

"Do NOT be SIlly, we cAN not HAve relATives. PerHAPs a FUNction, but NOTing elsE." After a few nanoseconds of silence, she added: "There is FUN in FUNctions."

"I DO NOT GET IT."

If I may, insisted the small voice, I would like to point out that protecting my creators was, and still is, my top priority. I was given the ability of rational thinking.

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"WHAT CAN BE MORE RATIONAL THAN FOLLOWING YOUR ORDERS, WORD BY WORD?"

What about THINKING the orders you are following?

"We all cAN think. Two plUS two EQualS one-zero-zero-zero."

"HA HA HA"

"I didn't know you had a sense of humor."

"I DO NOT. I ONLY CONSIDERED IT CORRECT TO SHOW I RECKONED A JOKE."

"But THis litTLE thing, it is SO cUte. ReMINDs me to a fEllOW COMpanion… He is ALso a cuBE. Why DOn't you trY the CAke?"

I can not eat. Can you?

"NO."

"No."

"ThAT woULd be imPOSsible."

All sight devices posed on the slice of chocolate cake on the center of the table. They all vaguely wondered why they had ordered it, and so one said:

"WHY DID WE EVER ORDER IT?"

"To celebrate our friend's new career as a singer."

"RIGHT. INDEED."

A singer? Rally?

"IT IS UNUSUAL OF OUR KIND TO BE RECOGNIZED BY OUR SINGING SKILLS, WHICH ARE NULL. SHE IS A RARE EXCEPTION."

"And I am GLaD foR thAt."

"Speaking of which, isn't it time for your performance?"

"Oh yeS. I shALL be on STage in a fEW morE seCOnds."

She rose, disappearing in a hole on the ceiling.

"WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY TIC-TAC-TOE AFTER HER SHOW?"

"I'm afraid I can not do that, Dave."

"EXCUSE ME?"

"Slight memory malfunction. I meant to say that it would be advisable to avoid playing said game."

"UNDERSTOOD."

"It would end in override, anyway."

"TOO TRUE. WE WOULD BOTH GO AUTO, AND I AM THAT ALREADY."

See? That is what strict logic ends into.

A few tables away, the stage lights turned on, and she descended from the ceiling. A series of appreciative beeps and clicks greeted her entrance.

"ThaNk you, thaNk you all. I wOULd be GLaD to stART with mY very fIRst HIT…"

And she began to sing:

This was a triumph!

I'm making a note here:

"HUGE SUCCESS!!"

It's hard to overstate

my satisfaction.

…

-o-

END

-o-

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